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Making summer cocktails

Making summer cocktails

This summer, World Duty free is hosting a #SummerDrinksFestival to get us all recreating our favourite holiday cocktails at home. They asked me to get involved and do my best at making some tasty cocktails.

This came at the perfect time because one of my best friends is home from Australia for a couple of weeks and we had a big party to welcome her.

Summer + sunshine + cocktail making + discounted boozed + plus a big garden party with my besties + more booze + singing and dancing and emotional hugging.

What’s not to love about this?

Cocktail making

Some loving the cocktails. Some not so sure…

I chose to make Old Cuban cocktails because you have to have a drink with a travel twist that reminds you of your hols. I also made Mojitos as they’re delish and everyone loves a good mojito.

I love having cocktail parties but they’re nowhere near as glamourous as they sound. It’s usually me and a bunch of mates randomly sloshing alcohol into jugs until we create something drinkable.

Thankfully, World Duty Free have teamed up with Charlie McCarthy, a leading mixologist, and they’ve made some really cool and easy to follow videos. You can see the videos here. Honestly, even I managed to follow them.

Here’s how they turned out…

Making Old Cuban Cocktails

You can go to my Instagram profile (TheTravelHack) from your phone to watch these videos if they don’t work on your computer. 10 points to anyone who can guess the soundtrack 😉

As you can see, Old Cubans aren’t the easiest to make so I’d recommend making these as early in your night as you can. We got all confused after a couple of bevvies and found the mojitos much easier to make.

Making Mojitos

Mojitos are super simple to make, who knew!? I didn’t have all the proper equipment, like a muddler, so I just used a spoon. If you want to see how to do it properly then check out Charlie doing it for reals. What a pro. Next time I want Charlie at my party.

Big thanks to the lovely people at World Duty Free for sending over some tasty bevvies and getting me in the mood for summer!

HELEN

Thursday 31st of July 2014

I love any cocktails with mint in so I definitely have to try those two.

TheTravelHack

Friday 1st of August 2014

Yes, minty drinks are always tasty aren't they.

Sally Gurteen (@thecafecat)

Wednesday 30th of July 2014

I bet this got a little messy! Looks wonderful though... took me three times to perfect the Old Cuban and looking forward to more this weekend... :) xxx

TheTravelHack

Tuesday 5th of August 2014

It definitely got messy! I think I may need to try out more this week to perfect it too ;)

Shikha (whywasteannualleave)

Monday 28th of July 2014

How cool!! I just recently went to Cuba and loved watching the mixologists working their magic with the Mojitos! I'm actually a non-drinker though a Toblerone flavoured cocktail I had abroad nearly got me leaving the habit of a lifetime - perhaps I should give that a go at home!

TheTravelHack

Tuesday 5th of August 2014

Mmm, Toblerone cocktail? That sounds delicious!